Pc power monitoring

Abstract

An energy saving device that has an electrical inlet which connects to a general power outlet, and has at least one monitored electrical outlet connecting to a computing device, the energy saving device having at least one switched electrical outlet which connects to, and supplies electrical power to, at least one peripheral device, which in a preferred embodiment is a computer monitor. The energy saving device includes a switch to control electrical connection of the inlet to the switched electrical outlet, and thus to control supply of electric power to the peripheral devices. Other peripherals may include printers, speakers and desk lamps.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing energy use by a computing device, the method including the steps of:
 a. detecting the presence of a user in the vicinity of the computing device,   b. when user presence is not detected for a pre-selected time period, determining that the computing device is not in active use,   c. when the computing device is determined not to be in active use, instructing the computing device to enter a low power standby mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting the presence of a user includes detecting movement in the vicinity of the computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting the presence of a user is performed by a passive infra-red sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting the presence of a user is performed by an active infra-red sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 :
 a. wherein:
 (1) the computing device includes an input device, the input device being configured to provide user input to the computing device, and 
 (2) an input detection device is configured to sense use of the input device, the input detection device being external to the computing device, 
   b. the method further includes the step of determining that the computing device is not in active use when use of the input device is not detected for a pre-selected time period.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 :
 a. wherein an energy saving device is provided in combination with the computing device, the energy saving device including:
 (1) an electrical inlet configured to connect to a general power outlet, 
 (2) a monitored electrical outlet configured to supply electrical power to the computing device, 
 (3) a switched electrical outlet configured to supply electrical power to a peripheral device, 
 (4) a power sensor configured to sense electrical power flow through the monitored electrical outlet to the computing device, 
   b. further including the step of removing power from the switched electrical outlet when the electrical power flow sensed by the power sensor indicates that the computing device is in a low power standby state.   
     
     
         7 . An energy saving device including:
 a. a presence detection sensor configured to sense a parameter indicating the presence of a user in the vicinity of a computing device,   b. a communication module configured to communicate a signal to the computing device when the presence detection sensor does not detect user presence for a pre-selected time period, the signal instructing the computing device to enter a low power standby mode.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the presence detection sensor is a passive infra-red sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the presence detection sensor is an active infra-red sensor, 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the presence detection sensor is:
 a. external to the computing device, and 
 b. configured to sense use of an input device adapted to provide user input to the computing device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7  in combination with a personal computer programmed to:
 a. receive the signal instructing the computing device to enter the low power standby mode, 
 b. query a user for an indication whether the computing device is required to be active, and 
 c. if the indication whether the computing device is required to be active is negative, place the computing device into the low power standby mode. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method of using the device of  claim 7 , the method including the device's performance of the steps of:
 a. determining that no user is present in the vicinity of the computing device,   b. Obtaining from a user an indication whether the computing device is required to be active, and   c. if the indication whether the computing device is required to be active is negative, placing the computing device into a low power standby mode.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of obtaining an indication whether the computing device is required to be active includes:
 a. upon determining that no user is present in the vicinity of the computing device, displaying on a monitor screen a warning that the computing device will shut down, and 
 b. monitoring the computing device for user input indicating that the computing device is required to be active. 
 
     
     
         14 . An energy saving device including:
 a. an electrical inlet configured to connect to a general power outlet,   b. a monitored electrical outlet configured to supply electrical power to the computing device,   c. a switched electrical outlet configured to supply electrical power to a peripheral device,   d. a switch configured to control electrical connection of the electrical inlet to the switched electrical outlet, thereby controlling supply of electric power from the electrical inlet to any peripheral device connected to the switched electrical outlet,   e. a presence detection sensor configured to sense the presence of a user,   f. a communication module configured to communicate a signal to the computing device when the presence detection sensor does not detect user presence for a pre-selected time period, the signal instructing the computing device to enter a low power standby mode.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 :
 a. further including a power sensor configured to sense electrical power flow through the monitored electrical outlet to the computing device,   b. wherein the switch removes power from the switched electrical outlet when the electrical power flow sensed by the power sensor indicates that the computing device is in a low power standby state.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the device includes a wired connection between the communication module and the computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the wired connection is a USB connection. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14  in combination with a personal computer programmed to:
 a. receive the signal instructing the computing device to enter the low power standby mode, 
 b. query a user for an indication whether the computing device is required to be active, and 
 c. if the indication whether the computing device is required to be active is negative, place the computing device into the low power standby mode.